Abstract: A manufacturing method and a manufacturing apparatus for a separator layer-coated electrode are provided capable of shortening the time required to cut out a separator layer-coated electrode with a laser beam. In a cutting process, a laser beam is irradiated to a laser irradiation target portion of a strip-shaped separator layer-coated electrode from a front-side separator layer side to cut a strip-shaped separator layer-coated electrode. Prior to the cutting process, a preheating process is conducted to preheat the front-side separator layer in the laser irradiation target portion.

Abstract: A method for processing a transparent workpiece comprises forming an optically modified region in or on a transparent workpiece and forming a contour in the transparent workpiece, the contour comprising a plurality of defects in the transparent workpiece positioned laterally offset from the optically modified region. Forming the contour comprises directing a primary laser beam comprising a quasi-non diffracting beam oriented along a beam pathway onto the transparent workpiece such that a first caustic portion of the primary laser beam is directed into the transparent workpiece, thereby generating an induced absorption within the transparent workpiece to produce a defect within the transparent workpiece and a second caustic portion of the primary laser beam is modified by the optically modified region. Further, translating the transparent workpiece and the primary laser beam relative to each other along a contour line and laterally offset from the optically modified region.

Abstract: Provided is method of producing a glass roll, the method including: a conveying step of conveying a glass film (G) along a longitudinal direction thereof; a cutting step of irradiating the glass film (G) with a laser beam (L) from a laser irradiation apparatus (19) while conveying the glass film (G) by the conveying step, to thereby separate the glass film (G) into a non-product portion (Gc) and a product portion (Gd); and a take-up step of taking up the product portion (Gd) into a roll shape, to thereby form a glass roll (R). The cutting step includes winding a thread-like peeled material (Ge) generated from an end portion of the product portion (Gd) in a width direction around a rod-shaped collecting member (20a), to thereby collect the thread-like peeled material (Ge).

Abstract: A method for producing a glass film is provided. The method includes: heating a portion of a glass preform so that in the heated portion the glass has a viscosity of less than 109 dPa·s, or drawing a glass from a melt; withdrawing the glass using a drawing device, wherein in case of drawing from a preform the drawn glass film is thinner than the glass preform; heating at least one point by means of a laser, the point being located in an edge region of the drawn glass film that is being formed by withdrawing the glass, wherein at the site of the laser focus the glass has a viscosity of not more than 109 dPa·s before the laser is switched on and wherein heating is performed in such a manner that at least one notch is provided in parallel to the drawing direction.

Abstract: A method of forming a glass article includes drawing a glass ribbon from a draw housing in a downstream direction, heating portions of only a bead of the glass ribbon to form compressive stress regions in the bead, scoring the glass ribbon to form a score line on which the glass ribbon is broken. The bead is heated at a position upstream from the score line. An apparatus for manufacturing a glass article includes a draw housing for forming a glass ribbon having a bead, a heating apparatus with a heat source for forming compressive stress regions in portions of only the bead of the glass ribbon, and a scoring apparatus that forms a score line on which the glass ribbon is broken to form the glass article. The heat source moves downstream simultaneously with the glass ribbon.

Abstract: Apparatus and equipment for making glass sheet from a glass ribbon including scoring, bending and separation in vertical state with improved glass ribbon stability provided by edge restrainers located above the score-line that also travel with substantially the same vertical velocity with the elastic ribbon. The edge restrainers on both sides of the glass ribbon serve to limit the motion and perturbation of the ribbon during scoring, bending and separation, advantageously by tensioning the glass ribbon where needed. The invention can reduce disturbance of the glass ribbon in upstream visco-elastic and/or viscous zones due to scoring, bending and separation, therefore enhance forming process stability and product attributes such as thickness variation, stress and stress variation, and the like. The invention can be particularly advantageous for making glass sheet with large width and/or low thickness using the fusion down-draw, slot down-draw, re-draw down-draw, and other down-draw processes.

Abstract: A glass sheet cutting device fuses and divides a glass substrate using a preset cutting line as a boundary while supplying an assist gas and a laser beam from above the glass substrate along the preset cutting line of the glass substrate. The glass sheet cutting device includes a first laser irradiator for radiating a fusing laser beam and a second laser irradiator for radiating an annealing laser beam. Through a fusing gap formed between fused end surfaces by fusing, the second laser irradiator radiates the annealing laser beam obliquely from above onto the fused end surface to be annealed.

Abstract: A glass manufacturing apparatus comprises a forming device configured to produce a glass ribbon and a control device configured to independently operate a first pull roll apparatus, a second pull roll apparatus, and a third pull roll apparatus such that at least one of a first upstream pair of draw rolls rotates with a substantially constant torque, at least one of a first midstream pair of draw rolls rotates with a substantially constant torque, and at least one of a first downstream pair of draw rolls rotates with a substantially constant angular velocity. In further examples, methods of manufacturing a glass ribbon are provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of separating a glass sheet from a moving glass ribbon, wherein the glass ribbon comprises thickened bead portions. The method comprises weakening the bead portions of the ribbon using laser-initiated ablation at the bead portions to overcome the potential for uncontrolled cracking through the bead portion.

Abstract: A method of cutting an object to be processed comprises the steps of irradiating an object to be processed with a laser light which is an elliptically-polarized light having an ellipticity other than 1 such that a direction of polarization of the laser light intersects a line to cut the object and a thickness direction of the object, while locating a converging point of the laser light within the object, so as to form a modified region within the object along the line and generate a fracture from the modified region in the thickness direction of the object, and causing the fracture to reach front and rear faces of the object so as to cut the object along the line.

Abstract: A method of cutting an article (172) from a chemically strengthened glass substrate (110) includes generating a pulsed laser beam (108) from a laser source (106). The pulsed laser beam (108) may have a pulse duration of less than about 1000 fs and an output wavelength such that the chemically strengthened glass substrate (110) is substantially transparent to the pulsed laser beam (108). The pulsed laser beam (108) may be focused to form a beam waist (109) that is positioned in the same horizontal plane as an inner tensile region (124) of the chemically strengthened glass substrate (110). The beam waist (109) may be translated in a first pass along a cut line (116), wherein the beam waist (109) traverses an edge (111) of the chemically strengthened glass substrate. The beam waist (113) may then be translated in a second pass along the cut line (116) such that a crack (119) propagates from the edge (113) along the cut line (116) ahead of the translated beam waist (109) during the second pass.

Abstract: Provided is a manufacturing device (1) of a glass film, the device including: a forming apparatus (10) of a glass film ribbon (G) for forming molten glass or a glass base material for secondary processing into a glass film ribbon (G); a winding apparatus (20) for winding, into a roll shape, the glass film ribbon (G), which is drawn downward while being cooled; and a width direction cutting apparatus (30) for cutting the glass film ribbon (G) along its width direction at a position before being wound by the winding apparatus (20). A vertical distance (h) from the glass film ribbon (G) forming start position by the forming apparatus (10) to a glass film ribbon (G) cutting position by the width direction cutting apparatus (30) is set as five times or more of a dimension in the width direction of the glass film ribbon (G).

Abstract: Invention relates to lenticular sheets made of thermally or chemically hardened mineral glass used for decorative panels, to create three-dimensional visual effects combined with an encoded image. One of the advantages of invention is the fact that it is a proposed mineral lenticular sheet, which underwent chemical or mechanical hardening of its outer parts 18. This increases the mechanical strength and impact resistance. This aspect makes it safer for use under the influence of external factors and in contact with a person. This allows for applying the invention in large scopes in comparison with plastic lenticular screens. Pre-stressing is achieved by thermal or chemical hardening.

Abstract: A glass ribbon engagement system is described herein that includes a robot tooling device with suction cups configured to engage a first side of a glass ribbon, and a guidance device with one or more devices (e.g., air nozzles, cylinder-wheel units) which are configured to apply one or more local forces to a second side of the glass ribbon to shift the glass ribbon towards the suction cups to assist the suction cups in engaging and securing the first side of the glass ribbon.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for compensating the varying weight of a glass ribbon the glass ribbon is drawn from a molten glass forming material, and an apparatus therefore. The weight compensating apparatus is configured to apply a force to the glass ribbon that is inversely proportional to the weight of the glass ribbon such that as the glass ribbon weight increases, the force applied to the glass ribbon by the weight compensating device decreases.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for cutting a continuous glass ribbon involving the use of edge restrainers such as suction cups and clamps connected to an actuator of a robot tooling through a flexible linkage capable of reciprocal motion in the direction of the ribbon velocity. The use of the flexible linkage reduces peak pulling-force when the glass ribbon is pulled or pushed laterally to during bending and separation along a pre-formed score-line. The invention can be advantageously used in the bottom of the draw of a vertical down-draw forming process.

Abstract: Described herein are aluminoborosilicate glass compositions that are substantially alkali-free and exhibit desirable physical and chemical properties for use as substrates in flat panel display devices, such as, active matrix liquid crystal displays (AMLCDs). The glass compositions can be formed into glass sheets by, for example, the float process. When used as substrates, the glass sheets exhibit dimensional stability during processing and damage resistance during cutting.

Abstract: A method for separating a thin glass sheet, such as a glass film along a predefined cutting line provides the cutting line immediately has a temperature of greater than 250 K below the transformation point Tg of the glass of the thin sheet of glass, including the input of energy along the cutting line using a laser beam which acts such that a separation of the thin glass sheet occurs.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for compensating the varying weight of a glass ribbon the glass ribbon is drawn from a molten glass forming material, and an apparatus therefore. The weight compensating apparatus is configured to apply a force to the glass ribbon that is inversely proportional to the weight of the glass ribbon such that as the glass ribbon weight increases, the force applied to the glass ribbon by the weight compensating device decreases.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for severing a marked region of a glass strip (1) produced continuously on a conveyor belt (11), having the following characteristics: a) a line (12) highlighting the severing of the marked region is scored on the continuous glass strip (1), b) once the scored line (12) reaches the crusher roll (6), the two lock rolls (7, 8) following the crusher roll (6) are folded away downward, c) once the scored line (12) is located in the region of the highest area of the crusher roll (6), means for shearing off (5) push onto the glass strip (1) and break it off, d) after the broken-off glass piece (10) has dropped, the lock rolls (7, 8, 9) are folded back in the conveyor belt (11), and to a computer program and a machine-readable carrier with the program code thereof.

Abstract: A cleaving apparatus holds at least one surface (effective surface) of a band-like glass film in a non-contact state to suppress a situation that wavy portions reach a region in which the band-like glass film is to be cleaved. The cleaving apparatus cleaves the band-like glass film, which is being conveyed in a longitudinal direction thereof, along a conveyance direction thereof using a thermal stress generated through localized heating and cooling of a heated region. The localized heating and the cooling is performed on a preset cleaving line extending along the conveyance direction of the band-like glass film. The cleaving apparatus includes an air knife for supplying air to a front surface of the band-like glass film to retain the film on a conveyor at a position on an upstream side of a cleaving region in the conveyance direction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of separating a glass sheet from a moving glass ribbon, wherein the glass ribbon comprises thickened bead portions. The method comprises weakening the bead portions of the ribbon using laser-initiated ablation at the bead portions to overcome the potential for uncontrolled cracking through the bead portion.

Abstract: A process for coating a ribbon of float glass is disclosed. It comprises the steps of forming a glass ribbon, depositing a first transparent conductive coating upon a major surface of the ribbon which does not extend to the edges of the ribbon while the ribbon is at an elevated temperature, cooling said coated ribbon under controlled conditions in an annealing lehr and cutting off the edges of the ribbon so as to produce a ribbon having a uniform coating extending across the full width of the cut ribbon which is characterized in that a second conductive coating is deposited upon the uncoated edges of the ribbon while that edge is at a temperature which is above the ambient temperature. The invention finds particular application in the production of coated glass products where the thickness of the glass ribbon is at least 8 mm and most particularly where the thickness of the glass is at least 10 mm.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for separating sheets of brittle material are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a separation apparatus for separating a sheet of brittle material includes a first separation cam positioned adjacent to a sheet conveyance pathway and a second separation cam positioned opposite from and downstream of the first separation cam. The first and second separation cams may be rotated such that the contact faces of the separation cams periodically extend across a centerline of the conveyance pathway. Rotation of the first and second separation cams may be synchronized such that at least the portion of the contact face of the first separation cam and at least the portion of the contact face of the second separation cam periodically extend across the centerline of the conveyance pathway at a separation time and periodically do not extend across the centerline of the conveyance pathway at a non-separation time.

Abstract: Methods of separating a strengthened glass substrate having a compressive surface layer and an inner tension layer include translating a laser beam on a surface of the strengthened glass substrate along a line of desired separation from a first edge of the strengthened glass substrate toward a second edge of the strengthened glass substrate. Methods further include backward-propagating a controlled full-body crack within the strengthened glass substrate from the second edge toward the first edge substantially along the line of desired separation. A scribe line may be formed on a surface of the strengthened glass substrate such that the strengthened glass substrate self-separates along the scribe line. A residual stress field may be created within the strengthened glass substrate such that a full-body crack backward-propagates from an exit defect located at the second edge toward the first edge along a line of desired separation, thereby separating the strengthened glass substrate.

Abstract: A scoreless separation device and method are described herein for separating a glass sheet without needing to score the glass sheet. In one embodiment, the device shears a stationary glass sheet without needing to score the glass sheet. In another embodiment, the device shears a moving glass sheet to remove outer edges from the moving glass sheet without needing to score the moving glass sheet.

Abstract: A scoreless separation device and method are described herein for separating a glass sheet without needing to score the glass sheet. In one embodiment, the device shears a stationary glass sheet without needing to score the glass sheet. In another embodiment, the device shears a moving glass sheet to remove outer edges from the moving glass sheet without needing to score the moving glass sheet.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of separating a glass sheet from a moving glass ribbon, wherein the glass ribbon comprises thickened bead portions. The method comprises weakening the bead portions of the ribbon using laser-initiated ablation at the bead portions to overcome the potential for uncontrolled cracking through the bead portion.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a glass substrate for magnetic disk, the internal strain of which is reduced without performing annealing treatment, is provided. The method includes a forming process of forming a plate-shaped glass blank by pressing a lump of molten glass using a pair of dies, wherein the method includes: a removing process of removing at least a part of a residual stress layer formed on the principal face of the glass blank press-formed in the forming process; and a process of forming a donut-shaped glass substrate by subjecting the glass blank after the removing process to machining.

Abstract: A scoreless separation device and method are described herein for separating a glass sheet without needing to score the glass sheet. In one embodiment, the device shears a stationary glass sheet without needing to score the glass sheet. In another embodiment, the device shears a moving glass sheet to remove outer edges from the moving glass sheet without needing to score the moving glass sheet.

Abstract: A glass manufacturing apparatus is described herein that comprises a forming device configured to produce a glass ribbon and a pull roll device which draws the glass ribbon downward from the forming device. The pull roll device has a first roll apparatus, a second roll apparatus, and a third roll apparatus. The pull roll device is configured to at least independently operate the first roll apparatus and the second roll apparatus such that at least one of a first upstream pair of draw rolls rotates with a substantially constant torque and at least one of a first downstream pair of draw rolls rotates with a substantially constant angular velocity. In further examples, methods of manufacturing a glass ribbon are provided.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for manufacturing high purity polysilicon. The apparatus includes a vacuum chamber; first and second electron guns disposed at an upper side of the vacuum chamber to irradiate electron beams into the vacuum chamber; a silicon melting unit which is placed on a first electron beam-irradiating region corresponding to the first electron gun and to which powdery raw silicon is fed and melted by the first electron beam; and a unidirectional solidification unit placed on a second electron beam-irradiating region corresponding to the second electron gun. The unidirectional solidification unit is provided therein with a start block driven in a downward direction to transfer molten silicon in the downward direction and is formed at a lower side thereof with a cooling channel. The start block includes a dummy bar having a silicon button joined to an upper portion of the dummy bar.

Abstract: Methods for cutting a fragile material are provided. The methods comprise the step of heating the fragile material along a separation path to separate the fragile material into a first portion and a second portion. At least the first portion includes a first thermal affected zone extending along the separation path. The methods further include the steps of spontaneously splitting at least part of the first thermal affected zone from the remainder of the first portion along a first split path extending a first distance from the separation path. The spontaneous splitting occurs as a consequence of the step of heating the fragile material.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for treating zircon-containing forming structures, e.g., zircon isopipes, with one or more treatment glass compositions in which defect-causing reactions between the zircon of the forming structure and molten glass are suppressed at the delivery temperature of the treatment glass. The treatment compositions can be used during start-up of a forming structure, between runs of the same production glass on a given forming structure, and/or when transitioning between runs of two production glasses on a given forming structure. The treatment compositions can be used with production glasses that are ion-exchangeable.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of separating a glass sheet from a moving glass ribbon, wherein the glass ribbon comprises thickened bead portions. The method comprises weakening the bead portions of the ribbon using laser-initiated ablation at the bead portions to overcome the potential for uncontrolled cracking through the bead portion.

Abstract: A glass manufacturing apparatus comprises a forming device configured to produce a glass ribbon and a control device configured to independently operate a first pull roll apparatus and a second pull roll apparatus such that at least one of a first upstream pair of draw rolls rotates with a substantially constant torque and at least one of a first downstream pair of draw rolls rotates with a substantially constant angular velocity. In further examples, methods of manufacturing a glass ribbon are provided.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a glass blank for magnetic disk including a pair of principal surfaces, the method including: dropping process for dropping a lump of molten glass; pressing process for forming a sheet glass material by sandwiching simultaneously the lump from both sides of the dropping path of the lump with surfaces of the pair of dies facing together, and performing press forming to the lump; and temperature adjusting process for adjusting temperature of the lump before the pressing process such that viscosity variation of the lump is reduced with respect to positions over the entirety of the lump in the pressing process.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for precision glass roll forming a supply of molten glass at a glass temperature of 1000° C. or higher. A pair of hot forming rolls having a surface temperature of about 500° C. or higher, vertically below the glass feed, that thin the supplied stream of molten glass to produce a formed glass ribbon. A pair of cold sizing rolls maintained at a surface temperature of about 400° C. or lower, vertically below the forming rolls, that thin the formed glass ribbon glass to produce a sized glass ribbon having a desired thickness and a desired thickness uniformity. The sized glass ribbon may have a thickness of 1 mm or less that varies in thickness by no more than +/?0.025 mm.

Abstract: In a cleaving apparatus for a glass film, an initial crack, which is formed at a leading end portion of a preset cleaving line of a glass film, is propagated along the preset cleaving line by a thermal stress generated in the glass film through localized heating performed along the preset cleaving line and cooling of a heated region resulting from the localized heating. At this time, a resin sheet having higher flexibility than the glass film is arranged in a cleaving region, and the resin sheet is floated by blowing a gas on a lower surface of the resin sheet by a floating unit. Then, a preset cleaving portion of the glass film including the preset cleaving line is lifted and supported while being covered with the floated resin sheet from below, and in this state, the glass film is cleaved.

Abstract: Methods of producing a glass sheet comprise the step of fusion drawing a glass ribbon along a draw direction into a viscous zone downstream from a root of a forming wedge. The method further includes the steps of drawing the glass ribbon into a setting zone downstream from the viscous zone and an elastic zone downstream from the setting zone. The method also includes the step of creating a vacuum to force the entire lateral portion of the glass ribbon to engage an anvil portion of a breaking device in the elastic zone. The method still further includes the steps of forming a score line along the lateral portion of the glass ribbon and breaking away a glass sheet from the glass ribbon along the score line while the entire lateral portion is forced against the anvil portion by the vacuum.

Abstract: The present invention provides a manufacturing method of a sheet glass material excellent in flatness. A manufacturing method of glass substrate for magnetic disk including a pair of principal surfaces, the method comprising the steps of: dropping process for dropping a lump of molten glass; pressing process for forming a sheet glass material by performing press forming to the lump while sandwiching the lump from both sides of the dropping path of the lump with facing surfaces of a pair of dies, the pair of dies being set to substantially the same temperature; and processing process for processing the sheet glass material, while the lump drops down while revolving around its dropping axis.

Abstract: A method of scoring and/or separating a brittle material is described comprising heating a surface of the brittle material along a predetermined path with a laser, then quenching the heated surface with a stream of cooling liquid, such as water, formed by a nozzle. The portion of the cooling stream impinging on the surface of the brittle material is a substantially columnar flow.

Abstract: Methods for separating glass sheets from glass ribbons are disclosed. One method includes forming a glass ribbon having a curvature in a lateral direction. A conformable nosing is engaged with a first surface of the glass ribbon such that the conformable nosing conforms to the curvature of the glass ribbon. The glass ribbon is scored along a scoring line on a second surface of the glass ribbon. The conformable nosing is then at least partially disengaged from the first surface of the glass ribbon by adjusting a bow of the conformable nosing. A bending moment is applied to the glass ribbon to separate a glass sheet from the glass ribbon at the scoring line. Application of the bending moment conforms the curvature of the glass ribbon to the bow of the conformable nosing prior to the glass sheet separating from the glass ribbon.

Abstract: A scoring device is described herein that applies a constant force while scoring a piece of material so that there is a consistent score quality (or vent depth) within the scored piece of material. In one embodiment, the piece of material is a bowed shaped glass sheet that is supported by a conformable nosing device which has been configured to have a bowed shape that substantially matches the bowed shape of the glass sheet.

Abstract: A spray nozzle is used in a process of quenching a hot glass sheet during a laser scoring process or other high energy glass heating process. The scoring is conducted by a high energy means such as a laser. The nozzle is located in proximity to the glass sheet, creating gas in liquid used to quench the glass located in the nozzle (e.g., water). The gas (e.g., air bubbles) is removed from the quenching liquid. Then, the spray nozzle is used to spray the quenching liquid onto the sheet at a location trailing laser scoring of the sheet, such as using a traveling anvil machine at the bottom of the draw. The spray nozzle (purge nozzle) has a purge opening and tubing leading to a discharge location. The purge nozzle can have a sloped passageway that pre-stages gas bubbles near the purge opening in the nozzle. The spray nozzle can include a cooling coil passing around the nozzle passageway that enables a coolant to travel along the coil.

Abstract: Isopipes (13) for making glass sheets using a fusion process are provided. The isopipes are made from alumina materials which have low levels of the elements of group IVB of the periodic chart, i.e., Ti, Zr, and Hf, as well as low levels of Sn. In this way, the alumina isopipes can be used with glasses that contain tin (e.g., as a fining agent or as the result of the use of tin electrodes for electrical heating of molten glass) without generating unacceptable levels of tin-containing defects in the glass sheets, specifically, at the sheets' fusion lines. The alumina isopipes disclosed herein are especially beneficial when used with tin-containing glasses that exhibit low tin solubility, e.g., glasses that have (RO+R2O)/Al2O3 ratios between 0.9 and 1.1, where, in mole percent on an oxide basis, (RO+R2O) is the sum of the concentrations of the glass' alkaline earth and alkali metal oxides and Al2O3 is the glass' alumina concentration.

Abstract: Molten glass (G) is set and press-molded in a molding die (60) having dies (621A1, 621A2) corresponding to a lens array. After the molding, the molded article is removed from the molding die (60) and separated by bending at a bend-separation face (121C), which is a boundary part of adjacent lens arrays, so that two lens arrays are produced.

Abstract: Provided are a method of manufacturing a glass blank, the method including press-molding a molten glass gob under a state in which a separation mark formed on an upper surface of the molten glass gob faces at least one of the molding surface sides of a pair of press molds arranged facing each other in a horizontal direction, when the molten glass gob falls into a space between the pair of press molds, and a method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium substrate and a method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium, both using the glass blank.

Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing a glass blank for a magnetic recording medium glass substrate, including: manufacturing a glass blank by at least press molding a falling molten glass gob with a pair of press molds both so as to face each other in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the molten glass gob falls, in which: the molten glass gob is formed of a glass material having a glass transition temperature of 600° C. or more; and when the press molding is carried out so that the molten glass gob is completely extended by pressure and molded into a flat glass between press-molding surfaces of the pair of press molds, at least a region in contact with the flat glass in each of the press-molding surfaces of the pair of press molds forms a substantially flat surface.

Abstract: Methods of producing a glass sheet comprise the step of fusion drawing a glass ribbon along a draw direction into a viscous zone downstream from a root of a forming wedge. The method further includes the steps of drawing the glass ribbon into a setting zone downstream from the viscous zone and an elastic zone downstream from the setting zone. The method also includes the step of creating a vacuum to force the entire lateral portion of the glass ribbon to engage an anvil portion of a breaking device in the elastic zone. The method still further includes the steps of forming a score line along the lateral portion of the glass ribbon and breaking away a glass sheet from the glass ribbon along the score line while the entire lateral portion is forced against the anvil portion by the vacuum.